Portable telephone.



PATENTED OCT. 1'7. 1905.

W. N. CLARK.

PORTABLE TELEPHONE.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 1, 1904.

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PATBNTED 0015.17, 1905.

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W. N. CLARK. PORTABLE TELEPHONE.

APPLICATION FILED 0UT.1, 1904.

Witness as TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PORTABLE TELEPHONE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed October 1., 1904. Serial No. 226,851.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER N. CLARK, of Warren, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Telephones; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the-invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The primary object of this invention is to provide in a desk-telephone a support for the receiver capable of being readily adjusted to suit all users and for holding the receiver in position for either ear.

A further object is to provide a main base to which various forms of desk -telephones may be readily secured.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l'is a view in perspective, showing the receiver in position for the right ear of a person using the telephone. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the telephone removed and the receiver-support positioned for holding the receiver in line with the left ear of a user. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the switch in its closed position. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the switch in its opened position, parts being broken away. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the base. Fig. 6 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a main circular base whereon the circular base 2 of a desk-telephone 3 is designed to rest, said base 1 being equipped with a series of radially-adjustable wings 4 for hugging the periphery of the telephone-base 2. These wings 4 are shown as formed on the ends of longitudinally-slotted plates 5, adjustable on the under side of the raised top of base 1, thumb-screws 6 being passed through the slots, so as to hold the several wings in their proper positions. The depending flange 7 of the main base is preferably covered with a strip 8 of felt. Preferably one or all of the wings t carry screws 9 for engaging the periphery of base 2 and insuring the retention thereof on the main base.

10 designatesan upright rigidly secured at its lower end to base 1 immediately in rear of the telephone and in line with the vertical center thereof and having at its upper end a bracket 12, to which a rod 13 is secured by a horizontally-movable ball-and-socket joint 14.. This rod 13 is itself connected to a second rod 15 by a ball-and-socket universal joint 16, and on the outer or free end of rod 15 are mounted horizontally-movable jaws 17 for holding the telephone-receiver 18. These jaws 17 are preferably connected together by a screw 19, passed through depending flanges .20, one of which is elongated and adjustably pivoted in a horizontally-movable joint 21, being held at the desired point of adjustment by thumb-screw 22. It will be seen that by the means described I have provided a universally-movable support for the receiver capable of-being adjusted to any desired point relatively to the transmitter of the telephone. It is manifest that by swinging this universal support to the right or the left of the upright 10 and turning the holding-jaws in their bearings the receiver may be positioned for either the right or left ear of the operator, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As is well known in the art, the weight of "the receiver is usually depended upon to hold the telephone-switch 24 in its closed position. Now inasmuch as the receiver is supposed to remain permanently in its holder I provide a device for automatically holding the switch closed and permitting of the raising thereof by the turning of a single element. This device comprehends an arm 25, passed transversely over the switch 24 and pivoted at one end to a bracket 26, adjustable on upright 10. This arm is ratcheted on its upper edge to be engaged and held by a pawl 27, fulcrumed on bracket 26 and constantly under the tension of a spring 28, which spring holds the pawl in engagement with the ratcheted edge of the arm. The tension of this spring is sufficient to force the arm downward when the operator lowers the switch, causing the arm to follow the latter and remain in contact therewith, since its rising is prevented by the pawl. When the telephone is about to be used and the switch opened, the operator presses against a lever 29, fulcrumed on arm 25 and having at its upper end a lateral projection 30, which engages the under side of pawl 27 and moves it out of contact with arm 25, allowing the latter to rise under the lifting action of the switch. As soon, however, as the latter is again lowered the arm 25 will move with it and being held by the pawl will retain the switch in its closed position. The projection 30 of lever 29 is widened, so that its opposite sides 31 and 32 will upon contacting with the upper edge of arm 25 serve to limit the move ments of the lever on its fulcrum, and thus retain it in proper position relative to the pawl. (See Fig. 6

The advantages of my invention are apparent to those skilled in the art. From what has been said it will be seen that in using my invention neither the construction nor the operation of the telephone now in general use is in any way interfered with. Not only may the advantages of a desk-telephone be secured, but the necessity of holding the receiver While using the instrument is rendered unnecessary. It is manifest that by the slightest movement of the receiver-support the receiver may be readily positioned at any desired angle relatively to the transmittter to suit the require ments of all users, and instead of having to remove and replace the receiver each time the telephone is used it is only necessary in the first instance for the operator to press on lever 30, and thereby release the circuit-controlling switch of the pressure of arm 25, whereas after the instrument has been used and the operator moves such switch downward it is so held by such arm, which is retained in place by the spring-actuated pawl. It is manifest also that by reason of the adjustable' wings on the main base my improvement is capable of being employed with telephones having bases of difierent sizes.

It will also be seen that by reason of the knuckle-joints at the inner and outer ends of the receiver-support and the universal joint between the two rods thereof the swinging and adjustment of the receiver is a matter of but a moment, and likewise that by making the receiver-holding jaw in two parts united by a screw the insertion and removal of receivers of different-sizes may be readily and easily accomplished.

I claim as my invention l. The combination with a portable telephone, of a bracket axially mounted in rear thereof and directly in line therewith, a rod having a swinging connection with said bracket, a second rod, a universal joint between said rods, a two-part horizontally-movable jaw for engaging and holding the receiver of the telephone, a joint on the free end of such second rod, and means for pivotally connecting said jaw to saidjoint, said rods being capable of being swung to the right or left of the telephone, and said jaw being capable of being turned in opposite directions relatively to said rods.

2. The combination with a portable telephone having a base, of a main base whereon the telephone-base is designed to rest, means for securing the latter to the former, an upright rigidly secured to said main base in rear of the telephone and directly in line therewith, a bracket axially mounted in the upper end of said upright and having a horizontal portion, universally-movable jointed rods secured to said bracket, and a jaw adjustably secured on the free end of one of said rods for holding the telephone-receiver, said rods being capable of being swung to the right or left of the telephone, and said jaw being capable of being turned in opposite directions relatively to said rods.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VALTER N. CLARK.

Witnesses:

G120. M. SMITH, FLORENCE E. SPEAR. 

